The sound of bells and carols still lingers in the air, the cold remains sharp across much of Italy, many businesses have forgotten to take down decorations, and some are still digesting the big feasts. Yet Christmas ended long ago, and as March advances and Carnival ends, we prepare to welcome Easter, which this year falls on April 17th.
As grandmothers have taught us, holidays mean family and big meals, and food is perhaps the greatest tradition of our country. Even those trying to keep the scale in check since December are secretly already thinking about what to cook for Easter. Here are some ideas and tips, blending tradition and experimentation.
What to Cook for Easter: Ideas and Recipes from Tradition
Recipes stemming from Easter tradition have one rule: abundance. This holiday is celebrated at the end of Lent, a period of religious fasting and deprivation. For this reason, the Easter Sunday menu is extremely rich and focuses mainly on meat , a pleasure that was given up during the previous forty days.Let's dive right into menu ideas, starting strictly from the beginning. Many cooks and professional eaters prefer to keep the appetizer simple, so it doesn't distract guests from the main dishes. However,
Let's dive right into menu ideas, starting strictly from the beginning. Many chefs, and professional eaters, prefer not to put too much effort into the appetizer, which can distract diners from the main dishes of the lunch. However, , but rather a great way to make everyone feel at home. A quick and always appreciated appetizer is the classiccharcuterie and cheese board , accompanied by somebruschetta and marinated vegetables (preferably homemade). However, grandmothers know that an Easter lunch without an appetizer is like a sky without stars. They turn to rustic regional traditional recipes, first and foremost the
Liguria's Easter pie (torta pasqualina) , made with chard, eggs, and puff pastry. Secondly, the Neapolitan casatiello , a rustic ring-shaped bread filled with cured meats and cheeses, decorated on the outside with whole eggs. Savory pies in general are excellent appetizer ideas, tasty and adaptable to many versions (here are 60 recipes for every palate ) depending on guests' tastes.Eggs are also one of the most beloved Easter symbols and can be served as appetizers, even stuffed with a cream of your choice.The Main Dishes to Cook for EasterNext come the first courses, which in Italian tradition are usually two types:
ravioli or lasagna
. Again, you can choose the traditional fillings,
ricotta and spinach for the ravioli , andbéchamel and ragù for the lasagna , or experiment with new combinations of vegetables and dairy, meat or fish. Seasonal pairings like salmon with asparagus or salmon with zucchini, as well as fava beans and artichokes, can be excellent ideas.For main courses, tradition is strict, as mentioned at the start: meat, meat, and more meat. Lamb is a must, or experiment with new pairings between vegetables and dairy, meat or fish. A great seasonal idea could be pairing salmon with asparagus or salmon with zucchini, but also fava beans and artichokes.
roast lamb . Those cooking indoors will still achieve excellent results with a classicoven-roasted lamb , perhaps accompanied by the indispensable and irresistiblepotato side dish . To vary the theme, lamb stew, green lamb, or marinated lamb are options.Lamb is tender but has a strong flavor that not everyone enjoys. For something more refined and less everyday, you can opt for rabbit or kid goat meat, roasted, baked, or marinated. For a simpler but still elaborate flavor, pork or veal roasts are good alternatives,
perhaps in a crust like filet Wellington, or veal tonnato or braised veal. If you've made it past the main course and can still lift your fork, this is your section—the dish that the most indulgent have been waiting for: desserts! Instead of settling for pre-packaged products, Easter 2022 could be the perfect occasion to experiment with your own hands.Why not make chocolate eggs at home? If that seems too daunting, you could aim for a surprise effect! Take a purchased egg, artisanal or packaged, andadd simple handmade decorations
. Or split it in half and fill it with cream—pastry cream, mascarpone, lemon, chantilly, or whatever you like—and finish with fresh fruit and crushed pistachios and hazelnuts. And how could we forget the colomba? It’s the quintessential Easter cake, and although it requires a long, multi-step process, it’s certainly not impossible to make and will be the perfect finishing touch to a star-worthy meal! For even more ideas, you can find unique activities to pair with your lunch here. What to Cook for Easter: A Fresh Twist on the TableBut who says the menu has to be entirely traditional?
If you want to refresh your table and surprise your guests, you can do so easily. It is the quintessential Easter dessert and although it requires a long preparation divided into several steps, it is certainly not impossible to make and will be the finishing touch to a star-worthy lunch! And if you want even more ideas, here you can find unique activities to pair with your meal.
reinterpret traditional dishes in vegetarian or vegan versions
, replacing meat with vegetables, with extra attention to sustainability by prioritizing local and seasonal products. If you want to rewrite the original recipes, lasagna can be made with a ragù of tofu, lentils, or tempeh
. Lamb roast can be excellently replaced with a seitan roast, or a vegetable roast featuring potatoes, sweet potatoes, and celeriac. These are valid and tasty alternatives. Nowadays, any ingredient can be swapped for a vegan counterpart to create new and delicious dishes. Another great idea for a different menu is tobring Easter traditions from other countries to your table . Among appetizers, you could include the French, or with a roasted vegetable dish, including potatoes, sweet potatoes, and celeriac. Valid and tasty alternatives. Nowadays, it is indeed possible to substitute any ingredient with a vegan counterpart and create new and delicious dishes.
, a puff pastry filled with ground pork and veal and hard-boiled eggs. For first courses, there’s the PolishŻurek , a soup made with sausages, eggs, vegetables, potatoes, and fermented rye flour, traditionally prepared from the start of Holy Week. Another more colorful and lively soup is Ecuador’s Fanesca
, with each family guarding its own recipe. Essential ingredients include salted cod, symbolizing Jesus, and twelve different types of legumes and grains, representing the twelve apostles. Salted cod, as a symbol of resurrection, is also central to the traditional Brazilian dish, a soup made with sausages, eggs, vegetables, potatoes, and fermented rye flour traditionally prepared from the beginning of Holy Week. Another soup, more colorful and lively, is the , prepared with potatoes, onions, black olives, and served with hard-boiled eggs. Sweets from Around the World
Finally, among desserts, in Croatiaon Saturday, they prepare the
Pinca
, a buttery sweet bread eaten on Easter Sunday morning. In the United Kingdom, sweet buns called Hot Cross Buns are made, spiced and studded with raisins. These are also prepared in advance on Good Friday to be enjoyed on the holiday. In Switzerland, they serve Osterchüechli, small cakes made with milk, semolina, lemon, and almonds. In short, this Easter you’ll have only the embarrassment of choice, and getting up from the table will be truly difficult. If you’re thinking of something different for your Easter, you can also visit our extensive events section., seasoned with spices and raisins. These also need to be prepared in advance, on Good Friday, to be eaten on the holiday. In Switzerland, instead, they serve the Osterchüechli, small cakes made with milk, semolina, lemon, and almonds.
In short, this Easter you will have only the embarrassment of choice, and getting up from the table will be truly difficult. If you were thinking of something different for your Easter, you can also visit our very rich events section.